Take A Thrilling Road Trip To The 8 Most Abandoned Places In Massachusetts
Massachusetts has a long and storied history, and it has its fair share of fascinating ruins to prove it. While not all of the state’s abandoned spots are accessible, there are some that allow you to drive or hike right up. This road trip will take you across the state to some of the most interesting and easy-to-reach abandoned places in Massachusetts.
Check out this interactive map for addresses and directions. Please note: Some of these places have interiors or areas that are off-limits to the public. Please obey all trespassing laws and be respectful of others’ property when exploring.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
The Clinton Railroad Tunnel has a spooky history. Built in the late 1800s, over 4,000 bodies from a local burial ground had to be unearthed and moved to construct this tunnel and the neighboring Wachusett Dam. Since then, people have reported all manner of ghostly phenomenon near this abandoned site. The railroad tunnel is completely open for public exploration.
2. Belchertown State School for the Feeble Minded, Belchertown
This abandoned state school was built in 1922 to care for and to educate people with mental disabilities or psychological conditions. By the 1970s, it had become notorious for its inhumane treatment of patients and terrible sanitary conditions. The school has been closed for about 40 years, but many of the old buildings remain standing.
You might recognize this abandoned zoo from the 2003 film Mystic River. Set away from the main area of the Franklin Park Zoo, this strange enclosure was built in 1912 and served to house a number of large bears. The public loved to come and watch the bears roam around their stone home, but the intricately carved enclosure is now abandoned and slowly being overtaken by nature. This area is open to the public for exploration.
Visiting Fort Revere is a great way to pack a beach day and a bit of ruin exploration into one trip. Located in the scenic village of Hull, this decommissioned military fort was in use from the Revolutionary War all the way until World War II. It was taken out of active service in 1947, and the public is welcome to explore its abandoned halls and stone rooms.
5. Metropolitan State Hospital and Metfern Cemetery, Waltham
This spooky-looking state hospital opened in 1930, and it bears a particularly macabre nickname – the Hospital of the Seven Teeth. In 1978, Melvin Wilson killed fellow patient Anne Marie Davee and buried her remains in three different locations around the hospital grounds. However, he kept seven of her teeth for trophies. Today, most of the buildings have been demolished. However, a quick trip down the Western Greenway Trail will lead you to the hospital's old burial ground, Metfern Cemetery. You can still see the simple graves.
6. Becket Land Trust Historic Quarry and Forest, Becket
The woods of Becket are hiding a park unlike any other in the world. This nature preserve is filled with the abandoned ruins of 200-year-old mining equipment, vehicles, and buildings. The ruins are left from the time when the area was an active quarry, and visitors can climb and investigate all of the abandoned sites. This park is open to the public for exploration.
This is a bona fide Massachusetts ghost town. Its history includes everything from rumors of witchcraft to packs of roving dogs, and the town is even studded with peculiar boulders bearing inspirational or reprimanding messages. While there aren't any standing homes left, it's fun to explore the old foundations and try to find all of the bizarre boulders.
This abandoned prison camp can be found in the woods of a state park in Rutland. The complex was built in 1903 to house minor offenders like drunkards and petty thieves. Instead of being confined in a cell all day, the prisoners were expected to work the land and cultivate potatoes, as well as tend cows and chickens. In 1907, a tuberculosis hospital was added to the prison. It was finally abandoned in 1934, but the ruins are still standing and fully open to the public.
What are your favorite abandoned places in Massachusetts? Let us know in the comments! If spooky and scary are more your style, check out these 15 terrifying places across Massachusetts that will send shivers up your spine.
Address: 6 Berkshire Ave, Belchertown, MA 01007, USA
Address: Playstead Rd, Boston, MA 02119, USA
Address: Fort Revere, Hull, MA 02045, USA
Address: Waltham, MA, USA
Address: 12 Brooker Hill Rd, Becket, MA 01223, USA
Address: Dogtown Commons, Gloucester, MA 01930, USA
Address: Rutland, MA, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Abandoned Places In Massachusetts
February 01, 2020
Beth Price-Williams
What is the most famous abandoned place in Massachusetts?
Abandoned places in Massachusetts are pretty abundant. If you enjoy a leisurely hike, lace up your hiking boots for the three-mile trek that will lead you to the Clinton Rail Tunnel, which sits abandoned. The .02-mile-long tunnel dates back to 1903, but it closed in the 1950s. If you want to walk through the tunnel, make sure you’re wearing waterproof shoes, and bring a flashlight as it can get pretty dark in the tunnel.
What is the most haunted place in Massachusetts?
How does a haunted road trip in Massachusetts sound? You’ve got an abundance of haunted places in Massachusetts from which to choose, so you can create your own or use one we’ve created (just click the link in the previous sentence). Visit such haunted places in Massachusetts as the Hoosac Tunnel in North Adams. While you can’t go in the tunnel, which is still used by freight railcars, you can explore the area around it. It took more than a quarter of a century to build the tunnel. During that time, more than 200 miners died in accidents. If you explore the area near the tunnel, you just might just see lights shining from the tunnel (when no one is there) and come across ghostly figures.
Can I go ghost hunting in Massachusetts?
You can definitely go ghost hunting in Massachusetts; you just have to know where to go. If you’re in the mood for a drink and a hearty helping of the paranormal, head to Stone’s Public House in Ashland. Dating back to the early 1800s, the bar and restaurant is said to be haunted by the spirit of around seven ghosts, including John Stone. The ghosts, according to a ghost hunter, are believed to come from the 1800s, still lingering after a murder during a card game. Be prepared for the unexpected, such as a hand on your shoulder. When you turn around, however, no one is there. Faucets are also said to turn on when no one’s around.
